December 06, 2007
I want please
One of my favourite bands - The Sword (who, incidentally I'll be going to see in March if Mosh can get tickets) has released an ultra-limited edition 12" package in conjunction with retro outfit Witchcraft. The EP is strictly limited to a pressing of 2500 copies and is available in a variety of colors, including 1000 on (dark) purple, 1000 on (dark) green and 500 on (dark) black. Witchcraft cover Led Zep's 'Immigrant Song', and The Sword air a brand new track - the splendidly-titled 'Sea of Spears'. Tasty. Lovely artwork too. Apparently they've sold out already though. Boo.
December 05, 2007
Beacon bad
I would be extremely annoyed if this was imposed on my profile without prior knowledge.
"The Beacon system tells a user's friends about a user's actions on sites outside of Facebook. For example, if a user purchases a product on a Beacon-participating site such as Overstock.com, which Forrester Analyst Charlene Li did, it would broadcast that purchase (in Ms. Li's case, a coffee table), to Ms. Li's Facebook network."
"But to look at Beacon's purpose as solely to amplify user recommendations is only part of the story. The other part is, of course, to incorporate commercial conversation into the social network to which Facebook can sell and attach advertising. If a user purchases a pair of Nike running shoes and Beacon alerts his or her friends, Nike could buy an ad to run alongside that alert that would include a link to a website -- a "social ad," if you will. "
A step too soon, too far IMHO. Whatever RelevantM are doing, it can't happen too soon if social networks are going to start taking liberties with a user's social / attention data.